The Bellingham Bells lost 6-5 against the Victoria HarbourCats on Friday, June 21, at Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria, British Columbia. Six unanswered runs were scored by the HarbourCats to give Victoria the first win of a three-game series on Vancouver Island and the Bells record fell to 12-7.

Tyler Van Dyke made his first start of the season with four innings of scoreless pitching. Van Dyke gave up only three hits and no walks while striking out five HarbourCats. The right-handed pitcher out of Stetson University is yet to allow an earned run in two appearances.

The Bells struck first in the second inning with a leadoff home run from Jacob Mejia. The lefty batter crushed his third home run of the season and is tied for the third most home runs in the West Coast League. Trent Mallonee later in the second inning hit a sacrifice fly in that scored Conner Smith.

A 2-0 lead was added to in the third inning with an RBI single from Smith that brought Mejia home who had reached on his second hit of the game earlier in the frame. Two more runs came from the Bells in the top of the fifth inning. First another Smith RBI single scored Nate Kirkpatrick who now has a hit in six straight games. Roman Martin would later score in the inning, advancing home as Smith got caught in a rundown. The Bells had a 5-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning.

The HarbourCats were able to finally score against the Bells pitching after being unable to get to Van Dyke. Eli Knowlton would allow two earned runs and exit the fifth inning with the Bells leading 5-2.

Victoria would take their first lead of the game in the seventh inning. Everett Swaim would allow two earned runs and that was nearly all the damage but an error by Roman Martin extended the inning for the HarbourCats. Sax Matson would enter the seventh inning having runners on first and second base with two outs. Matson let two runners score on a single and a wild pitch, both runs would be unearned due to the Martin error but Victoria had taken a 6-5 lead.

The Bells could not answer the six straight runs put up by the HarbourCats and Victoria would go on to win 6-5 with Matson receiving the loss and Connor Sims earning the win. Game two of the three-game series is tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. as the Bells look to even the series 1-1. You can watch the live stream of the game here.

Offensively the Bells were led by Smith’s 3 for 4 day with two RBI. Smith is tied for team lead for runs batted in with 10 on the season. Mejia went 2 for 3 with a home run and extended his on-base streak to 11 games. Martin also had a multi-hit day going 2 for 3 at the plate.

Tonight’s game recap is presented by Everstrong Physical Therapy and Performance.